JoyCorps is an organization that comes alongside entrepreneurs in Asia and assists them in starting their own businesses. They are believe specifically in the power of redemptive entrepreneurship in aiding economic development in the developing world. They work with entrepreneurs who already have a defined business plan that will help their community and they surround the entrepreneur with a supportive community.
They have been partnered with Asian entrepreneurs for over 30 years. You might be thinking, “Why Asia?” JoyCorps has recognized that rural Asia houses many people living in poverty due to the constant elimination of agricultural and craft-based jobs. This is leading to mass migration and continual poverty. JoyCorps recognized this need, and they wanted to make an impact while also maintaining the dignity of the Asian people. JoyCorps equips them with the resources they need to create stable jobs in their communities and meet the needs of those around them. They partner with indigenous leaders to create lasting businesses. They also have a justice-based mindset, and they work very closely with the entrepreneurs in Asia with the same ideals to create strategies for transforming their communities.
JoyCorps has been hugely successful with a 100% survival rate for the ventures they have supported. They have created over 400 job opportunities and they have experienced an increase in salaries over the last five years. They have provided a fresh start for hundreds of families in six communities.
I love this type of organization because it is not the typical “Americans in a third world country” organization. JoyCorps does not have the attitude that they are going to Asia to “fix everything”, but rather they have the mindset of partnering with the Asians in a joint effort to help the community. The majority of the JoyCorps staff lives in Asia and are working alongside the Asian entrepreneurs daily. And, through this mutual partnership, they are seeing incredible results. It goes to show that redemptive entrepreneurship is more than just providing help, it is about transforming lives.
In our last class, we had a very interesting discussion about having courage within the…
Vocation is often seen as a big, singular calling. But it is also in everyday…
In the church context we find ourselves in the 21st century, many pastors identify as…
After multiply lectures and class discussions regarding church size I found it appropriate to write…
I wanted to talk about how the failure of churches can teach us about the…
In a time when the connection is more digital than ever, The Riverside Church in…